Box holding system

ABSTRACT

A system for holding nested boxes, where each box features a lid and a bottom joined by a living hinge and where first and second notches are defined between the top and bottom of each box on opposite sides of the living hinge when each box is in an unfolded configuration. The system features a rack including a support adapted to rest on a generally horizontal surface, a pair of generally parallel vertical members mounted to the support and a number of generally parallel horizontal members extending between the pair of vertical members. The system also features a box holder assembly including a base featuring a hook portion and a channel. The hook portion of the box holder assembly engages one of the horizontal members of the rack so that the box holder assembly is supported by the rack above the generally horizontal surface. A fixed arm is attached to the base and features a fixed arm guide. An adjustable arm features a sliding section positioned in the channel of the base and an adjustable arm guide positioned generally parallel to the fixed arm guide. A spring urges the adjustable arm guide towards the fixed arm guide so that the fixed arm guide engages the first notches of the nested boxes and the adjustable arm guide engages the second notches of the nested boxes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to storage devices and, moreparticularly, to a box holding system.

BACKGROUND

Restaurants, typically of the fast food variety, often serve sandwichesor other food items in boxes constructed from cardboard, plastic orother disposable materials. Such boxes typically feature a bottomportion and a lid portion joined by a living hinge. Speed of service isoften a high priority in such restaurants, so a need exists for a boxholding system where the boxes may be quickly and easily accessed. Inaddition, compact storage of the boxes is desirable to preserve valuablecounter space.

Restaurants that offer carryout service or that provide boxes forcustomers to take leftovers home use similar types of boxes. Ease ofaccess and compact storage of such boxes is also desirable for suchrestaurants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the box holder assemblyof the box holding system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the box holder assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the base of the box holderassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the fixed arm of the boxholder assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the guide of the fixed arm ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the adjustable arm of the boxholder assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the spring of the box holder assembly ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the box holder assembly of FIG. 1mounted on an embodiment of the rack of the box holding system of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A box holder assembly constructed in accordance with an embodiment ofthe box holding system of the invention is indicated in general at 10 inFIGS. 1 and 2. As will be explained in greater detail below, the boxholder assembly mounts on a rack and features a fixed arm and anadjustable arm so that the spacing between the two arms self-adjusts toreceive and store boxes of various sizes.

The box holder assembly includes a base, indicated in general at 12 inFIGS. 1-3. The base is preferably formed of metal, but may alternativelybe formed of plastic or any other generally rigid and durable material.The top edge portion of the base is folded over to form a hook portion14. The bottom edge portion of the base is folded to form a shelfportion 15 and a downwardly extending skirt portion 16. As illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 3, the middle portion 17 of the base is cut or stamped sothat tabs 18 a, 18 b and 18 c are formed. These tabs are bent so that achannel, indicated in general at 19 in FIG. 2, is formed along the backside of the middle portion of the base. A slot 20 is also formed in themiddle portion of the base.

The fixed arm 24 of the box holder assembly, as illustrated in FIG. 4,includes a guide 26. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the guide 26features a stop 28 positioned on the distal end of elongated portion 32.While guide 26 preferably is constructed from a single piece of wirewith the distal end bent into a loop to form stop 28, elongated portion32 and stop 28 may alternatively be formed from separate pieces that arejoined together. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the fixed arm 24 includes anoutwardly extending portion 36, a generally horizontal fastening portion38 and a generally vertical fastening portion 42. While portions 36, 38and 42 are preferably formed from a single piece of wire, they mayalternatively be formed from separate sections that are securedtogether. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the elongated portion 32 ofthe guide 26 is secured lengthwise to the outwardly extending portion 36of the fixed arm 24. This may be accomplished by soldering, welding,adhesive or any other fastening method known in the art.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, and similar to the fixed arm 24 of FIGS. 1, 4and 5, the adjustable arm 44 includes a guide 46 that includes a stop 48and an elongated portion 52. While guide 46 preferably is constructedfrom a single piece of wire with the distal end bent into a loop to formstop 48, elongated portion 52 and stop 48 may alternatively be formedfrom separate pieces that are joined together. Guide 46 is joined to theremaining portion of the adjustable arm 44 at joints 56 a and 56 b bysoldering, welding, adhesive or any other fastening method known in theart. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the guide of the adjustable arm and theguide of the fixed arm are positioned generally parallel to one another.

As further illustrated in FIG. 6, the adjustable arm 44 includes asliding section 62 and an outwardly extending portion 64. The slidingsection 62 consists of a lower portion 66 and an upper portion 67 joinedby generally U-shaped portion 68. While portions 62, 66, 67 and 68 arepreferably formed from a single piece of wire, they may alternatively beformed from separate sections that are secured together.

A generally vertical wire segment 54 is joined to the sliding section ofthe adjustable arm 44 at joints 58 a and 58 b by soldering, welding,adhesive or any other fastening method known in the art.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lower portion 66 and upper portion67 of the sliding section of the adjustable arm is preferably sized tobe received in a sliding fashion within the channel 19 formed by tabs 18a, 18 b, 18 c and 18 d of the base 12.

The spacing between the fixed arm 24 and the adjustable arm 44 of FIG. 1self-adjusts to accommodate a variety of box sizes. This is accomplishedby way of a spring, an embodiment of which is indicated in general at 76in FIG. 7. The spring is preferably formed from a strip of metal. As analternative to metal, the spring 76 may be constructed from a variety ofother suitable spring materials known in the art, including plastic. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, the spring features a coiled portion 78, ageneral flat center portion 80 and an end portion that has been foldedover to form a hook portion 82.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hook portion 82 of the springengages the slot 20 formed in the middle portion 17 of the base 12. Thecoil portion 78 of the spring is positioned around the generallyvertical wire segment 54 of the adjustable arm. As a result, theadjustable arm is gently urged towards the fixed arm, that is, in thedirection of arrow 83 in FIG. 1, with the lower and upper portions 66and 67 of the adjustable arm sliding section sliding within channel 19.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the box holder assembly 10 is preferablymounted on a rack, indicated in general at 92, along with additional boxholder assemblies featuring the same construction. The rack includes asupport 92 which supports generally parallel, elongated vertical members94 a and 94 b on a generally horizontal surface, such as a countertop. Anumber of generally parallel horizontal members, such as 96 a and 96 b,extend between the vertical members 94 a and 94 b. The support, verticaland horizontal members are preferably formed from metal wire, but othersuitable materials known in the art may be used.

With reference to FIG. 8, the hook portion 14 of base 12 of the boxholder assembly engages rack horizontal member 96 a, while the shelfportion 15 of the of the base of the box holder assembly abuts andengages horizontal member 96 b. The skirt portion 16 of the box holderassembly extends below horizontal member 96 b and serves as a handlethat may be gripped by a user's fingers to remove or reposition the boxholder assembly. As a result, the box holder assembly securely hangs onthe rack 92, but may be easily removed for cleaning or repositioned.Rack 92 positions the individual box holder assemblies for ease ofaccess while saving valuable counter space.

As further illustrated in FIG. 8, the box holder assembly self-adjuststo accommodate and store nested boxes featuring a variety of sizes, suchas boxes 84 and 85. Box 84, which is illustrated in an unfoldedconfiguration, includes a lid portion 86 and a bottom portion 87 joinedby a section of cardboard that forms a living hinge portion 88. Box 85,which is also illustrated in an unfolded configuration, similarlyfeatures a bottom portion 89 and a lid portion 90 joined by a section ofcardboard that forms a living hinge portion 91. When the boxes 84 and 85are placed in a folded configuration by pivoting their lid and bottomportions towards one another about the living hinges, the lid and bottomportions latch together and cooperate to form an enclosed space withinwhich a sandwich or other food items may be stored. As illustrated inFIG. 8, the nested boxes are horizontally stacked and, as a result, arecompactly stored on each box holder assembly and may be quickly, easilyand individually pulled from each box holder assembly as they areneeded.

While cardboard boxes are illustrated in FIG. 8, boxes constructed ofother materials, such as plastic or Styrofoam, but featuring a similarconstruction, may also be stored in the box holder assembly.

As also illustrated in FIG. 8, the arms 124 and 144 of a box holderassembly featuring the construction illustrated in FIG. 1 are spaced andgently urged together via the spring (FIG. 7) so as to self-adjust andengage first and second notches 100 a and 100 b formed between the topand bottom portions 86 and 87 of box 84 on opposite sides of the livinghinge 88, and the corresponding first and second notches of the nestedboxes behind box 84. Arms 224 and 244 of another box holder assembly,also featuring the construction illustrated in FIG. 1, are spaced andgently urged together via the spring (FIG. 7) so as to self-adjust andengage first and second notches 102 a and 102 b formed between the topand bottom portions 89 and 90 of the box 85 on opposite sides of theliving hinge 91, and the corresponding first and second notches of thenested boxes behind box 85.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made therein without departing from the spiritof the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

1. An assembly for holding nested boxes, each box featuring a lid and abottom joined by a living hinge where first and second notches aredefined between the top and bottom of each box on opposite sides of theliving hinge when each box is in an unfolded configuration, the assemblycomprising: a) a base featuring a channel; b) a fixed arm attached tothe base and featuring a fixed arm guide; c) an adjustable arm featuringa sliding section positioned in the channel of the base and anadjustable arm guide positioned generally parallel to the fixed armguide; and d) a spring urging said adjustable arm guide towards saidfixed arm guide so that the fixed arm guide is adapted to engage thefirst notches of the nested boxes and the adjustable arm guide isadapted to engage the second notches of the nested boxes.
 2. Theassembly of claim 1 wherein the base features a slot and the springfeatures a hook portion that engages the slot and a coiled portion thatengages the adjustable arm.
 3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein thespring is formed from a strip of metal.
 4. The assembly of claim 1wherein the base includes a plurality of tabs that form the channel. 5.The assembly of claim 1 wherein the base includes a hook portion.
 6. Theassembly of claim 5 wherein the base includes a shelf portion.
 7. Theassembly of claim 6 wherein the base includes a skirt portion extendingdown from the shelf portion, said skirt portion adapted for gripping byfingers of a user.
 8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the fixed armincludes a fixed arm outwardly extending portion with said fixed armguide mounted to the fixed arm outwardly extending portion, a generallyhorizontal fastening portion secured to the outwardly extending portionand the base and a generally vertical fastening portion secured to thegenerally horizontal fastening portion and the base.
 9. The assembly ofclaim 8 wherein the fixed arm outwardly extending portion, generallyhorizontal fastening portion and generally vertical fastening portionare formed from a single piece of wire.
 10. The assembly of claim 1wherein a stop is formed on each of the distal ends of the fixed armguide and the adjustable arm guide.
 11. The assembly of claim 1 whereinthe adjustable arm features an adjustable arm outwardly extendingportion with said adjustable arm guide mounted to the fixed armoutwardly extending portion and said adjustable arm sliding sectionincludes a lower portion joined to said outwardly extending portion andan upper portion joined to the lower portion by a generally U-shapedportion, said upper and lower portions sliding within the channel of thebase.
 12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the adjustable arm outwardlyextending portion, sliding section lower portion, sliding section upperportion and sliding section generally U-shaped portion are formed from asingle piece of wire.
 13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein theadjustable arm includes a vertical wire segment connected between theupper and lower portions of the sliding section and wherein the basefeatures a slot and the spring features a hook portion that engages theslot and a coiled portion that engages the vertical wire segment of theadjustable arm.
 14. A system for holding nested boxes, each boxfeaturing a lid and a bottom joined by a living hinge where first andsecond notches are defined between the top and bottom of each box onopposite sides of the living hinge when each box is in an unfoldedconfiguration, the system comprising: a) a rack including: i. a supportadapted to rest on a generally horizontal surface; ii. a pair ofgenerally parallel vertical members mounted to said support; iii. aplurality of generally parallel horizontal members extending betweensaid pair of vertical members; b) a box holder assembly including: i. abase featuring a hook portion and a channel; ii. a fixed arm attached tothe base and featuring a fixed arm guide; iii. an adjustable armfeaturing a sliding section positioned in the channel of the base and anadjustable arm guide positioned generally parallel to the fixed armguide; iv. a spring urging said adjustable arm guide towards said fixedarm guide so that the fixed arm guide is adapted to engage the firstnotches of the nested boxes and the adjustable arm guide is adapted toengage the second notches of the nested boxes; c) said hook portion ofthe box holder assembly engaging one of said generally parallelhorizontal members of said rack so that said box holder assembly issupported by said rack above the generally horizontal surface.
 15. Theassembly of claim 14 wherein the base includes a plurality of tabs thatform the channel.
 16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the base includesa shelf portion adapted to engage one of said generally parallelhorizontal members of the rack and a skirt portion extending down fromthe shelf portion, said skirt portion adapted for gripping by fingers ofa user.
 17. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the fixed arm includes afixed arm outwardly extending portion with said fixed arm guide mountedto the fixed arm outwardly extending portion, a generally horizontalfastening portion secured to the outwardly extending portion and thebase and a generally vertical fastening portion secured to the generallyhorizontal fastening portion and the base.
 18. The assembly of claim 14wherein a stop is formed on each of the distal ends of the fixed armguide and the adjustable arm guide.
 19. The assembly of claim 14 whereinthe adjustable arm features an adjustable arm outwardly extendingportion with said adjustable arm guide mounted to the fixed armoutwardly extending portion and said adjustable arm sliding sectionincludes a lower portion joined to said outwardly extending portion andan upper portion joined to the lower portion by a generally U-shapedportion, said upper and lower portions sliding within the channel of thebase.
 20. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the adjustable arm includes avertical wire segment connected between the upper and lower portions ofthe sliding section and wherein the base features a slot and the springfeatures a hook portion that engages the slot and a coiled portion thatengages the vertical wire segment of the adjustable arm.